The Mafulu eBook

II. The Particle, Ga.

The particle ga (often g’ before
a vowel) is generally used with the past tense, and
is rarely absent in the positive form of the verb.
But it may be used also with the present and future.
With the present it seems to indicate reference to
a preceding action in the sense of “being on
the point of,” “ready to.” With
the future it has almost the sense of “go.”

Ex. Ake ga nembe na, the men have eaten the
bird; amu g’anga the women are gone;
naga bulitsi gatsi, I am going to go away to
the garden; naga sue, I am going away.

Note (1). Ga always immediately follows the
subject, except with the past of the verb ange(ge),
to go, which always has g’anga.

(2). When the subject is not a pronoun, the pronoun
of the 3rd pers. sing. is often expressed.

(3). Ga never appears to be used in a negative
expression.

Ex. Naga ipitsial’ uruv’ ema, I
have killed with the gun a toucan; mel ul’
etsi g’anga, the child to his village has
gone; Okom’ ug’ nemb’ ema,
Okome has killed a bird; ake kupa me na, the
men have not eaten the potatoes.

III. Person and Number.

These are not expressed by the verb in Fuyuge.

IV. Tense and Mode.

1. There are three principal tenses, present,
past and future. The present is found in the
indicative and imperative modes, the past in the indicative
only, and the future in the indicative and subjunctive.
Besides these, there is a method of expressing the
infinitive, a passive participle, and two forms of
verbal adjectives.

If the Imperative be regarded as the stem, there appear
to be three Conjugations, but Dr. Strong gives four
based on past tense, thus: i. Verbs with
monosyllabic roots, 2. Verbs with roots in a,
3. Verbs with roots in i, 4. Verbs
with roots in e.